Enhanced browsing with indication of prefetching status

Abstract

A method of enhanced browsing involves a first web page displayed by a browser in a first browser window. The first web page has a target link to a second web page. A computer system automatically prefetches content from the second web page. The method causes display in the first browser window of a first indicator proximate to and associated with the target link and prior to the computer system receiving a selection of the target link. The first indicator visually conveys in real-time an initiation of the prefetching of content from the second web page. In response to completion of the prefetching, the method causes display in the first browser window of a second indicator in place of said first indicator to visually convey in real-time the completion of the prefetching.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of enhanced browsing in a first web page displayed by a browser in a first browser window, the first web page having a target link to a second web page, the method comprising:
 a computer system automatically prefetching content from the second web page prior to the computer system receiving a selection of the target link; 
 causing, while the computer system automatically prefetches said content form the second web page, display of a first indicator associated with the target link, the first indicator visually conveying in real time the prefetching of content from the second web page; 
 in response to completion of the prefetching, causing display in the first browser window of a second indicator, different from and in place of, said first indicator to visually convey in real time the completion of the prefetching; 
 in response to a determination that the prefetching has failed, causing display in the first browser window of a third indicator, different from and in place of said first indicator, to visually convey failure of the prefetching; and 
 in response to detection of a security threat in the prefetched content, causing display in the first browser window of a fourth indicator, different from and in place of said first indicator, to visually convey information regarding the security threat. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first indicator and said second indicator comprise active controls. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first indicator comprises an icon having a first appearance, and said second indicator comprises said icon having a second appearance. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said first indicator comprises an icon, and said second indicator comprises said icon and a symbol superimposed on said icon. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 generating but not displaying a second window; 
 populating the second window with the prefetched content and a set of ads; and 
 caching the second window. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 causing display of the second window, wherein the second window is displayed on top of the first browser window. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting placement of a cursor proximate to said second indicator by detecting use of a mouse or other user interface device to position the cursor proximate to the second indicator. 
 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the cursor is proximate to said second indicator if the cursor is over said second indicator. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 detecting rotation of a scroll wheel on the mouse or other user interface device; and 
 in response to said detecting rotation:
 moving the cursor to be proximate to a target link to a third web page on the first web page; and 
 displaying content prefetched from the third web page. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein said rotation of said scroll wheel is detected while the cursor is on said second indicator. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the content prefetched from a third web page is displayed in a second window. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the content prefetched from a third web page is displayed in a third window displayed instead of the second window. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 detecting placement of the cursor on a fifth indicator associated with a link to the third web page. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a first user input; and 
 in response to said detecting a first user input:
 if a user-controlled cursor is positioned in the first browser window and not in the second web page displayed in a second window, replacing the prefetched content with content prefetched from a third web page; and 
 if the user-controlled cursor is positioned in the second window, scrolling the prefetched content from the second web page. 
 
 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting a first user input; and 
 in response to said detecting a first user input:
 if a user-controlled cursor is positioned in the first browser window and not in a second browser window displaying the second web page, scrolling the first web page; and 
 if the user-controlled cursor is positioned in the second window, replacing the prefetched content with content prefetched from a third web page. 
 
 
     
     
       16. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon, instructions that, if executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations of enhanced browsing, the instructions comprising:
 instructions to identify, in a first web page displayed by a browser in a browser window, a target link to a second web page; 
 instructions to prefetch automatically content from the second web page prior to the computer system receiving a selection of the target link; 
 instructions to cause, while the computer system automatically prefetches said content form the second web page, display of a first indicator associated with the target link, the first indicator configured to visually convey in real time an initiation of prefetching of content from the second web page; 
 instructions to, upon completion of the prefetching, cause display of a second indicator in place of said first indicator to visually convey in real time the completion of the prefetching, wherein the second indicator is different from the first indicator; 
 instructions to, in response to a determination that the prefetching has failed, cause display in the first browser window of a third indicator, different from and in place of said first indicator, to visually convey failure of the prefetching; and 
 instructions to, in response to detection of a security threat in the prefetched content, cause display in the first browser window of a fourth indicator, different from and in place of said first indicator, to visually convey information regarding the security threat. 
 
     
     
       17. A computer-implemented method of enhanced browsing, the method comprising:
 causing display in a browser window of a first electronic page containing a set of target links, including a first target link; 
 automatically prefetching content linked to by the first target link; 
 causing display of a first status indicator associated with the first target link, to visually convey in real time a status of the automatic prefetching of the content linked to by the first target link, wherein the first status indicator is displayed prior to receiving a selection of the target link; 
 upon completion of the automatic prefetching of the content linked to by the first target link, causing display of a second indicator in place of said first status indicator to visually convey in real time the completion of the automatic prefetching of the content linked to by the first target link, wherein the second indicator is different from the first status indicator; 
 in response to a determination that the prefetching has failed, causing display of a third indicator, different from and in place of said first status indicator, to visually convey failure of the prefetching; and 
 in response to detection of a security threat in the prefetched content, causing display of a fourth indicator, different from and in place of said first status indicator, to visually convey information regarding the security threat. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 prefetching the content prior to a user selection of the first target link. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 altering said first status indicator if the status of the prefetching changes.